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The passion of flying

Our commitment

Flying is a privilege

It creates moments of presence and happiness. U-Turn has dedicated itself to the excitement of flying and not only lives it every day, but also wants to make it accessible to as many people as possible. U-Turn develops innovative products for the sport of paragliding and offers a full-service range.

Our statement "SAFE FUN" is a commitment to safety.

U-Turn strives for the absolute highest level of passive safety, because the products should inspire and bring joy. This also means that the products support the pilot even when conditions become more difficult. Because the fun factor increases significantly when the risk factor decreases. What counts for us is not what is feasible, but maximum safety. To manufacture products with high technological standards, innovation and design with a quality that stands the test of time.

U-Turn has a clear goal "to make the best even better"

We work tirelessly on progress and drive ourselves to improve every day. To develop more ideas for more safety and to constantly rethink things and find intelligent solutions. We are proud of our work, value uncompromising quality and love our sport. The products are manufactured with the utmost care, because they are designed to produce quality in the long term.

People are at the center of everything we do.

Responsible treatment of employees and nature is just as much a matter of course for us as it is for each individual pilot. U-Turn cultivates an authentic and transparent style. Lean structures enable us to act dynamically.

U-turn products are distributed by a selected global dealer network, whose partners are characterized by outstanding expertise, service quality and customer friendliness. U-Turn also ensures value-creating growth and maximum price stability for its products worldwide.

We wish you many great moments in the air

Fly safe & have fun

History

Always ahead of the times

U-Turn GmbH was founded in 2002 by Thomas Vosseler and Ernst Strobl after several years of market analysis. The combined expertise of Vosseler’s visionary ideas and Strobl’s many years of design know-how quickly paid off. From the very beginning, the focus was on the future, which was manifested by countless innovations in the industry. Starting with the world’s first loopable paraglider G-Force, the AFS system for automatic flight stabilization, the PBV additional ventilation and the first tandem paraglider Twinforce suitable for aerobatics. The company from the Black Forest has also caused a sensation with various spectacular actions, premieres and records such as the crossing of the English Channel, the first tandem infinity tumbling, etc.

The company grew rapidly in Germany and Austria, and from 2004 onwards U-Turn has also been a driving force on the global market. Today, U-Turn is represented worldwide and offers a full-service product range for paragliders – the extensive product range includes not only paragliders but also harnesses, rescue systems, accessories and helmets.

Here are some visual highlights from the history of U-Turn:

2013, World record infinity tumbling

50 Infinity Tumblings of the 19 year old acro pilot Daniela Martin over the Swiss shore of Lake Constance with
subsequent landing on raft.

2012, first thriller size 13

Pal Takats flies the legendary acro wing Thriller in size 13 in competition

2011, Pal Takats wins the overall World Cup

Exceptional athlete Takats wins the overall World Cup with the Thriller

2010, World premiere Two-seater Infinity Tumbling

World premiere of the first infinity tumbling with a tandem parachute on Lake Walen (Switzerland)

2009, participation Xalps from U-Turn team pilot Takats

Pal Takats takes part in Xalp's toughest paragliding competition with a specially developed U-turn wing

2008, world premiere head-over zeppelin jump

World's first paragliding jump from Zeppelin
followed by a precision landing on a floating
Ferrari convertible in the Lindau harbor basin with Mike Küng

2007, indoor jump tropical Iceland 94 meters

First paragliding jump in a closed hall under 100 meters with Mike Küng

2006, Felix Rodriguez flies the U-Turn flag

The pioneer and exceptional athlete becomes part of the U-Turn Acroteam

2005, Paragliding jump Europabrücke

First headover jump from the 192-meter-high Europabrücke bridge on the Brenner freeway with a paraglider

2004, U-Turn Acro Team

Spectacular acro shows of synchronized flights

2003, Transspeed Europe continental crossing

From the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic in five days
1400 kilometers, two seas, four countries, 31 jumps

2002, G-Force the first acrobatic paraglider

U-Turn develops the first acrobatic paraglider

Respect with nature

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Built by pilots for pilots

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Innovation of future

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Safe fun

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Purpose & Values

U-Turn stands for freedom and unconventional thinking, for innovative spirit and progress. The products excite, inspire and bring people to self-realization. We promote individuality and create intense moments in life.

U-Turn attaches great importance to creating products that inspire in the long term, increase the fun factor and are outside of performance conventions. We inspire the next generation. To this end, we are constantly working to raise the safety of wings to a new level. U-Turn cultivates an appreciative and respectful relationship with nature and every being.

The partners

Thomas Vosseler, successful entrepreneur and owner of a computer company, and Ernst Stobl, competition pilot, DHV test pilot and design engineer, met through Thomas’ company. Strobl always wanted to have the most advanced product and the fastest computer on the market, Vosseler recalls. As a result, the two were in constant contact and Strobl needed new computer components almost every month. The conversation always ended up on the subject of paragliders and at some point the idea of a joint paragliding company. The U-Turn concept was born.

Thomas Vosseler

Founder

Ernst Strobl

Founder / Chief designer

Lukas Schellenberg

Partner / CEO

Innovations

U-Turn cultivates a passion for progress. The constant search for innovative technical and ever more efficient solutions serves an ever higher safety standard in paragliding. Here you will find an overview of our most important innovations.

3D Shape

Das 3D Shaping sorgt für die gezielte Kontrolle der Spannung des Flügels und somit für ein optimiertes Ballooning und eine faltenfreie Konturführung.

Zipper Flexible System

Durch einen eingebauten Zipper lässt sich der Flügel verkleinern, dies ermöglicht einen erweiterten Gewichtsbereich und eine flexible Handhabung in der Anwendung – die Zellen lassen sich im Schirm verstauen.

Stabilo Security Function

Durch eine, am Tragegurt fixierte, Gummileine lässt sich die, auf einer Rolle geführte, Stabiloleine sehr schnell greifen und bei einem Verhänger schnell reagieren.

Precision Profile Nose

Das Precision Profile Nose-System sorgt mit Kunststoff-Verstärkungen in den Vernähungen für die Stabilität der Profilnase und optimiert damit die Strömung entlang der gesamten Eintrittsöffnung.

Pressure Balance Valves

Die bewährten Ventile im Untersegel sorgen für zusätzliche Belüftung in extremen Anstellwinkeln.

Pilot Assistant

Farbliche Markierungen, sowie Icons, sorgen für eine schnelle Übersicht – zur besseren Orientierung an den Tragegurten.

Multiple Speed System

Eine zusätzliche Lasche am Tragegurt ermöglicht eine variable Einhängehöhe der Beschleuniger-Rolle und somit für einen größeren Beschleunigerweg.

Mini Ribs

Die Mini-Ribs optimieren das Flügelprofil entlang der Hinterkante und sorgen somit für ein besseres Bremsverhalten.

Line Loop protection

Ein in die Verbindungslasche eingespleister Kevlarkern schützt den Loop und reduziert den Oberflächendruck bei den Leinenverbindungen.

High Pressure Crossport Design

Sorgt für eine optimierte Querbelüftung der Crossports, dies hilft Druckunterschiede im Flügelinneren effizient auszugleichen und einen ausgewogenen Innendruck im gesamten Flügels zu gewährleisten.

High Definition Profile

Kunststoff-Stäbchen werden in die Profiloberseite des Flügels eingearbeitet und decken zwischen 45 und 80% der Flächentiefe ab.

Extended Aeration System

Während normaler Anströmung sind die zusätzlichen Öffnungen im Obersegel verschlossen. Dafür sorgt der Innendruck und der Luftwirbel, der durch die einströmende Luft im vorderen Bereich des Flügelprofils entstehen.

B-Flight System

Zwei farblich markierte Steuerschlaufen an den B-Gurten ermöglichen eine steuerbare Abstiegshilfe – den B-Flug.

Brake Gathering System

Durch das System wird die Spannweite der Hinterkante verkürzt, dies beeinflusst die Bremscharakteristik positiv.

Automatic Flight Stabilisation

Das innovative System von U-Turn greift dann ein, wenn die Luft turbulent wird. Möglich wird diese Technik durch eine präzise Berechnung der Segelvorspannung am Flügelende.

AirLab

Innovations need drive

U-Turn has always shown the courage to go its own way and advance safety in paragliding with innovative solutions. The AirLab is the test laboratory and heart of U-Turn chief designer Ernst Strobl. The efficiency of new ideas and designs is constantly being put to the test. Countless innovations from U-Turn have already been developed in the AirLab and made ready for series production. For example, the world’s first acro tandem wing TwinForce, the revolutionary AFS, as well as the additional ventilation through the PBV, which also revolutionized the safety standard of the A-Class.